Winnik would have been signed already, but the Wild don’t have much space left under the salary cap. Winnik, who made $2.25 million in the final season of a two-year 4.5 million deal he originally signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, will have to take a major salary cut to land on the Wild’s roster.

Fletcher said the team could afford a player at the salary of $866,000. Typically players who sign PTOs make league minimum or close to league minimum.

Fletcher says #mnwild can afford a player with 866K. If not Winnik, they’re looking at other options. Can be trade, waivers or callup

According to CapFriendly, the Wild currently have 21 players on their roster and a total of 48 players in their organization with contracts.

While Winnik did not appear in the Wild’s final preseason game, Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau said that had nothing to do with his play.

“I pulled him aside, and I talked to him and said, ‘Danny, you’ve done great. I know exactly how you play. We just want to look at a couple of the young kids,'” Boudreau said to the Star Tribune. “So it’s not like he would have to come in here and play great to either make the team or not make the team.”

Winnik wasn’t upset by the lineup decision for the game.

“I think I played well the five games I played. I figured that’s what I’d get, five of seven, maybe six,” Winnik said to the Tribune. “I don’t think it has anything to do with my play or anything like that, so they just want that lineup in, and I’m fine with it.”